Davy Mckee (london) Limited

Davy Process Technology Limited

Davy Mckee (oil & Chemicals) Limited

Kvaerner Process Technology, Ltd.

Davy Mckee Corporation

Davy Research and Development Limited

George E Harrison

Alan J Dennis

Donald H McKinley

Norman Harris

John Scarlett

James P Wyber

Michael A Wood

Arthur James Reason

John Richard Hensman

Mohammad Sharif

Martyn Wilmott

Simon Robert Early

James Andrew Banister

Andrew J Roberts

Peter R Wilkes

John Wilson Kippax

Richard Clive Spratt

Richard Joseph Kolodziej

The present invention relates to a continuous hydroformylation process for the production of an aldehyde by hydroformylation of an olefin which comprises: providing a hydroformylation zone containing a charge of a liquid reaction medium having dissolved therein a rhodium hydroformylation catalyst comprising rhodium in combination with carbon monoxide and a ligand; supplying the olefin to the hydroformylation zone; maintaining temperature and pressure conditions in the hydroformylation zone conducive to hydroformylation of the olefin; recovering from the liquid hydroformylation medium a hydroformylation product comprising aldehyde; recovering from the hydroformylation zone a stream comprising the rhodium catalyst; contacting at least a portion of the stream with a solid acidic absorbent under process conditions which allow at least some of the rhodium to become bound to the absorbent; subjecting the rhodium bound to the absorbent, under process conditions which allow desorption of the metal, to a fluid stripping medium comprising hydrogen and solvent; recovering the rhodium hydride catalyst; and recycling the rhodium hydride catalyst to the hydroformylation zone.

Hydroformylation process with recycle of active rhodium catalyst

Disclosed is a reactor and process for exothermic vapour phase reaction, wherein the reactor (,) comprises a pressure vessel (,) having an inlet (,) for reactant(s) and an outlet (,) for products; a plurality of beds (,) with heterogeneous catalyst, each bed supported by a catalyst support grating (,); a vapour collection chamber (,) and a vapour redistribution chamber (,) between successive pair(s) of beds for redistribution of vapourous reaction mixture over the inlet of the next bed; a diaphragm (,) separating the vapour collection chamber (,) from the vapour redistribution chamber; at least one pair of nested trough members extending at least partially across the diaphragm, each comprising an inner trough member (,) having one or more apertures (,), an outer trough (,) having one or more apertures (,) and a quench gas conduit (,) provided with apertures (,); the apertures (,) arranged to provide a tortuous pathway for the flow of vapour and quench gas.

Catalytic reactor and process for exothermic gas phase reactions

The invention proposes a process and waste treatment plant for regenerating alkali metal hydroxide (,) from an alkaline aqueous waste stream (,) that contains alkali metal C3&plus; carboxylate byproduct. The waste stream (,) is acidified and the resulting liquour (,) is fed to a first distillation zone (,) to distil carboxylic acid and water. Alternatively, it is fed to a settling zone (,) from which an upper organic layer (,) is recovered as well as a lower aqueous phase (,) which is fed to the first distillation zone. The overhead product (,) from the first distillation zone is condensed and separated into a carboxylic acid layer which is either purged (,) or fed (,) to the settling zone (,). The lower layer (,) of the condensate is redistilled and the water bottoms stream (,) is fed to the cathode compartment (,) of an electrolytic cell (,), while the bottoms stream (,) from the first distillation zone is supplied to the anode compartment (,). Inorganic acid (,) regenerated in the anode compartment is used to acidify the waste stream, while alkali metal hydroxide solution from the cathode compartment is recycled to the chemical production plant (,).

Process and plant for treating an aqueous waste stream containing at least one alkali metal carboxylate

Multi-step hydrodesulfurization process

An aldolisation process is disclosed for converting an aldehyde or mixture of aldehydes, such as iso-butyraldehyde and formaldehyde, to a desired polyhydroxy alcohol or glycol, such as neopentyl glycol. Aldolisation is effected in a stirred tank reactor using an alkali catalyst, such as sodium hydroxide. An aldolisation intermediate product is converted to the desired polyhydroxy alcohol or glycol by a hydrogenation or cross-Cannizzaro reaction step. The product is recovered and an aqueous catalyst-containing phase is recycled to the aldolisation zone. At least a portion of this catalyst recycle stream is purged to control the build up of cross-Cannizzaro products in the recycle stream. The purge stream is treated electrolytically to obtain an aqueous catalyst-containing solution for recycle to the aldolisation zone and an effluent stream comprising volatile organic materials and being substantially free from alkali catalyst.

Process for the commercial production of polyhydroxy alcohols and glycols

Esterification is carried out in a column reactor (14) in which there is a plurality of esterification trays (15) each having predetermined liquid hold-up and containing a charge of a solid esterification catalyst thereon. e.g. an ion exchange resin containing a --SO.sub.3 H and/or --COOH groups. A liquid phase containing the carboxylic acid component, e.g. a fatty acid mixture, flows down the column reactor from one esterification tray to the next downward one against an upflowing alcohol vapour stream, e.g. methanol vapour. Relatively dry alcohol vapour is injected (21) into the bottom of the column reactor. Water of esterification is removed from the top of the column reactor in the vapour stream (26), whilst ester product is recovered (23) from the sump of the reactor. As the liquid flows down the trays it encounters progressively drier alocohol and the esterification equilibrium reaction is driven further and further towards 100% ester formation. A polishing reactor (304) operated under liquid phase conditions may follow the column reactor, the ester-containing product from which is mixed with further alcohol before admission to the polishing reactor.

Production of carboxylic acid ester by esterification and apparatus

Aldolisation-dehydration process

A diaryl carbonate is produced by transesterification of a dialkyl carbonate, such as dimethyl carbonate, with an aromatic hydroxy compound, such as phenol, in three successive reaction zones. A transesterification catalyst, such as a titanate ester or ester mixture is used in each zone. Conditions are selected to maximize formation of alkyl aryl carbonate in the first and second reaction zones, while conversion to diaryl carbonate is favored in the third reaction zone. The vaporous mixture from the first two reaction zones is a mixture containing alkyl alcohol, dialkyl carbonate, alkyl aryl carbonate and aromatic hydroxy compound. This mixture is separated in an alkyl alcohol recovery zone by distillation in the distillation columns to produce useful recycle streams. The second of these distillation columns can be operated at a lower pressure than the first, thus enabling the heat of vaporization of this mixture to be used as the source of heat for the reboiler of the second distillation column of the alkyl alcohol recovery zone.

Growing community of inventors

Billericay, United Kingdom

George E Harrison